FAINTING...what made you drop?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I'm a pre-nursing student waiting for my acceptance letter this July. I've been known to faint from time to time. So, here's my question, what made you faint during your time at nursing school?

I wanted to be a nurse (since I was a little girl), but I stayed away from the field because I listened to my family who thought I wouldn't be able to keep my knees from wabbling. Only after my best friend's daughter graduated as a surgical tech that I revisited my goal. This young lady was known to pass out during class and was laughed at by her peers, but her instructor kept the faith. He told her she could get through it. He said simply, "You have to stay focused. The patient needs you more than the floor does."

She ended up graduating at the top of her class!

I would love to be further inspired by another story. So, now that I'm seated, let me know what I'm up against!

I didn't pass out but felt weak - phlegm. Phlegm gets me everytime. It really really grosses me out. First I feel like I'm going to toss my cookies then I feel faint. I'm not talking just normal phlegm - I'm talking pneumonia phlegm. Blech.

OMG... funny you mention phlegm! Im not in the nursing program yet, but my husband was in the hospital & started coughing and there it came flying out of his mouth... as if that wasnt gross enough, it was green :barf02: Lets just say my gag reflex went into overtime... that was the first time that ever happen to me! I didnt vomit, but I did a lot of dry heaving. The nurse & doc were in the room looking at me I was soooooooooo embarrassed :behindpc:

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Eat breakfast!!! Put a granola bar in your pocket and eat it half way through clinical. Trust me =)

I have't fainted yet - but I did see stars and get really clammy watching a chest tube get replaced - and I am not squeamish at all. This was 5 hours into clinical and I did not take 30 seconds to eat the granola bar in my pocket. I've actually seen much worse (in my opinion), but I normally eat better and haven't had another problem since.

I know this is an area I am going to have to fight fight fight too... I never even really watched scary movies. But I always tell myself, in time I will get use to seeing/smelling the different things in the hospital... I pray I never ever faint!!! Glad to hear that it's not uncommon... thanks for posting this!!!

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I strongly recommend NOT breathing through your mouth. Use the Vics vapo-rub stuff under your nose instead. I"m a pre-nursing student, but volunteer as an EMT with a local search & rescue team. Unfortunately, we often end up recovering deceased victims that aren't always fresh. From experience - better to SMELL them than to TASTE them. You can get used to a smell and even "block" it (kind of like ambiant noise), but taste will stick with you a while longer - and starts that gag-reflex much easier.

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Specializes in n/a.
I strongly recommend NOT breathing through your mouth. Use the Vics vapo-rub stuff under your nose instead. I"m a pre-nursing student, but volunteer as an EMT with a local search & rescue team. Unfortunately, we often end up recovering deceased victims that aren't always fresh. From experience - better to SMELL them than to TASTE them. You can get used to a smell and even "block" it (kind of like ambiant noise), but taste will stick with you a while longer - and starts that gag-reflex much easier.

Many thanks. I'll give it a trial run on something in the garbage (lol)!

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I have heard that if you know that smells "get" you and you know that you'll be coming across that situation...try some Vick's Vaporub or peppermint oil beneath your nostrils. Keep it in your clinical bag if you think you'll need it. Peppermint gum works also but I don't like chewing gum at clinical.

Fainting prevention tips: get plenty of sleep the night before, eat breakfast (I know there are those of you who think like me and think 2 travel mugs of strong coffee count but...NO), do not lock your knees, and do not be afraid to excuse yourself should you feel woozy.

I knocked myself silly fainting when the M.D. was lancing a rather large abscess because I did not do these things. Lessons learned!

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Specializes in LTC.

There are some smells that you never get used to. C-Diff and purulent MRSA wounds are 2 that come to mind quickly. If you are not prepared for nasty smells, a quick sniff of rubbing alcohol works well to clear the nostrils.

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Specializes in ED/TELE.

The three things that have made me weak in the knees since becoming a nurse were 1) seeing the spinal fluid come out from a lumbar puncture, 2) being a stand by for an IUD insertion and 3) sputum. I'm fine with the first 2 now if I can go to my happy place in my head. I don't think I'll ever be able to stomach sputum - EVER. Makes me drive heave every time.

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Specializes in ED/TELE.
I am a little concerned about the smells......and now I'm concerned about seeing brain matter. Mind over matter!

If you don't mind, it don't matter :bugeyes:

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Specializes in n/a.
If you don't mind, it don't matter :bugeyes:

That's funny! :lol2:

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Great post! I have a great deal of medical experience in sports medicine, but of course a nurse will deal with things that I never have. Broken bones,horrible wounds and the like don't concern me. What does concern me is catheters! I am scared to death of even the idea of having to insert a catheter. I have endured too many trips to the urologist office to count and have had some extremely painful procedures done on my bladder and kidney. I think of a catheter and it makes me shudder at the memory of pain that I went through. I suppose I am going to have to find a way to get over this! One night, just recently, I woke up wondering if I am sure that I want to do this. I thought to myself "ya know, I bet there isn't a nurse out there who thinks to herself that she just cannot wait to shuv a tube up someones urethra today!"

What I dread most is burn victims. I don't know how I will deal with that. A badly burned patient offers up not only horrible smells but also a sight that you won't quickly forget.

I don't deal well with people who whine and complain so that will probably be the biggest challenge for me to deal with.

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Specializes in Neuro.

I was observing a C-section in the OR and I hadn't had anything to eat that morning (always eat something). It was the smell of them cauterizing fat that got to me. I leaned against the wall and then they noticed and ushered me out so I could sit and drink some water. It look me about a half an our to calm my nerves and stop the cold sweats.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

The C-section observation got me too. Maybe it's just because I have one, but the sight of the uterus, pink and glistening, made me woozy. The MD was tugging on it and shifting it around...a sudden interest in the Panda warmer next to me was enough to prevent me from falling out.

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